Isothermal Container For Preserving Of Various Materials

ABSTRACT

This container includes an insulating body, a door made of an insulating material, and mechanism for locking the door in the closed position. A multi-component container having a volume adaptable on demand, less heavy and less expensive, whilst having good resistance to wear and to blows. This body is formed by stacking body elements which are made of an insulating material and which are each generally U-shaped, the ends of the wings thereof defining the access opening, the elements being inserted between end elements which, having the same U-shaped cross-section as these but being closed at one side by a bottom, are reinforced by independent metal frames which exert thereon a compressive strength which is produced by metal clamping rods. These extend between the two frames and pass through the body elements and the end elements via holes.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to containers for preserving, cold or hot, of various materials.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In known manner, this kind of container is in monolithic body shaped, vertical with a front door or horizontal with a top door.

The bodies and the door are usually made separately and composed of a core of insulating material which is inserted either between rigid walls of resin-glass laminates or between roto-molded plastic walls. The lower part is generally provided with castors and the door is provided with closure means, with or without stiffening means.

For the cold storage, the cold source consists of eutectic plates containing a liquid mixture that can store the negative calories or of a tray receiving dry ice and able to ensure a fresh or frozen storage.

These containers are to be moved between a starting place, where they are loaded with products to preserve and with cold, and a place of arrival where they their contents are unloaded. This to and from movement between buildings and a transport vehicle involves many manipulations. These are sometimes made without special care by a staff inattentive to the preservation of container. It follows that to obtain containers having a satisfactory lifetime, these are designed to be resistant. The corollary is that they are relatively expensive, and that this extra cost applies to careful users and containers less prone to manipulations.

The invention therefore relates more particularly isothermal containers comprising:

-   -   a body made of rigid insulating material, substantially         parallelepiped, having an cavity divided into a space for         receiving the products and foodstuffs to preserve in temperature         and in a space for receiving heat exchanging means,     -   a door made of an insulating material which bears against the         edges of the cavity to sealingly close the container,     -   and means for closing the door by putting it in compression         against the supporting means of the body of the container.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A first object of the invention is to provide lighter and cheaper containers, but with at least the same insulating ability and a very satisfactory service life, with good resistance to wear and to handling impacts and blows.

Another object of the invention is to provide a multi component container allowing the manufacturer to replace components damaged by shocks and, by modifying the number of identical components, to achieve containers having different capacities.

In the container according to the invention, the body is formed by stacking body elements A made of insulating material and which are each generally U-shaped, the ends of the wings thereof defining the access opening, said body elements A being inserted between two end elements B. These are likewise with the same U-section thereof, but are closed on one side by a transverse wall and are reinforced by independent metal frames exerting a compressive strength on their transverse walls. This compressive strength is produced by clamping rods extending between the two frames and passing through the body elements A and the end elements B.

Thus, to increase the interior volume of the container, it is sufficient, during its construction, to increase the number of body elements arranged between the end elements and to use longer clamping rods, subject to use a monolithic door adapted to the opening of the body.

Moreover, in case of deterioration of one or more body elements leading to a decrease of their strength or a reduction of their insulating ability, the repair can be performed easily by removing the container to replace the defective elements.

In a preferred embodiment, the door has, in each of its longitudinal edges, spaced bearings in which is disposed a reinforcing metal rod passing through the door along its entire length, said door comprising:

-   -   on the side of its hinged connection on the body and in the         space between bearings, connecting rods whose one end is hinged         to its reinforcing rod and the other end on a rod of the body,         and,     -   on the other side and in the spaces between bearings, attachment         means passing through gaps between bearings of the body to hang         on a rod of said body.

This arrangement ensures the plating of the door on the body and the continuity of the preserving qualities of the container.

Advantageously, the body elements, the end members and the door are monolithic and made of expanded cellular material, for example expanded polypropylene.

Thus, these elements have a very isolating core protected by a surface skin harder and more resistant to shocks and scratches.

In addition, the use of a single material to achieve the body and the door of the container, instead of using the traditional design with a complex and formed by glass-resin composite walls between which an expandable insulating foam is injected, facilitates recycling at end of life of the container.

This recycling is also facilitated by reducing the number of components and by their assembly method, without glue or large screws, which reduces the time of the dismantling, before the distribution of materials for their recycling.

In one embodiment, the relative positioning and sealing between the body and end elements assembled, respectively, is ensured by ribs projecting from one wing and the half of the transverse edge of each element, said ribs penetrating into grooves arranged in a wing and the half of the transverse edge of the opposite element, said ribs and grooves being reversely arranged on the opposite sides of each of the body elements.

During the stacking of the elements, the ribs of the elements penetrate into the grooves of other elements and provide in a simple manner the sealing of the seal surfaces between elements.

Preferably, the end face of each of the wings of the body elements A and that of the end elements B comprises a rib projecting from the abutment surface for the door, extending parallel to the clamping rods F and having, at each of his ends, a projection adapted to collapse elastically against the projections of the stacked elements to ensure the continuity of the sealing barrier surrounding the opening of the body.

Advantageously and to ensure the respect in the time of the sealing of the inside cavity, the door comprises, projecting from his face abutting against the edge of the opening of the body, a continuous rib around the sealing barrier formed by juxtaposition of the ribs of the body elements and end elements.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be better understood using the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings of an embodiment of a container with side opening and in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a vertical container with an average capacity;

FIGS. 2 and 3 are perspective views from the front and each side of the container of FIG. 1, when his door is in the closed position;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing, on an enlarged scale, one embodiment of a body element;

FIGS. 5 and 6 are views in elevation and on a reduced scale of the body element when viewed respectively from the rear and from the front;

FIGS. 7 and 8 are respectively perspective and top plan views of an embodiment of the end element;

FIG. 9 is a view in top plan of an embodiment of the clamping frame;

FIGS. 10 and 11 are cross-sectional views and on an enlarged scale showing the container when the door is in closing and opening position, respectively, with folding against the container;

FIG. 12 is a partial and on a greatly enlarged scale cross sectional view showing an embodiment of the attachment means of the door to the body, when these means are being drawing on the closing rod;

FIG. 13 is a partial view, in perspective and on a greatly enlarged scale, of hooking means of FIG. 12, when they are in hooking position;

FIG. 14 is a front view in elevation of the container when the door is folded against its side wall;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the container door which is opened, not folded.

FIGS. 16 and 17 are partial sectional views showing on an enlarged scale one embodiment of the sealing means between elements;

FIG. 18 is a schematic front view of the body of a container showing the reciprocal contact areas of the sealing barriers formed on the body and the door; and

FIG. 19 is a partial sectional view on an enlarged scale, outside the area of the hinges and bearings, of a door resting against the body.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows that the container is formed by assembling the following components:

-   -   body elements A,     -   end elements B,     -   two extrem frames C,     -   a door D,     -   connecting rods E of the door to the body     -   metal rods F for connection by clamping the elements,     -   attachment means G to lock the door in the closed position on         the body.

The body elements A, the end elements B and the door D are made of expanded cellular material, for example expanded polypropylene, which confers them a very good thermal expansion coefficient, and by way of a smooth and hard skin, an abrasive wear resistance, by blows and by the usual attacks during operation.

As shown in detail by FIGS. 4-6, each body element A has a generally lying U-shape with two wings 2, forming the side walls of the container, and a core 3 forming the rear transverses wall of the containers. The ends of the wings 2 define the access opening 1 to the container and have a abutment surface 4 from which a rib 5 projects from the lower face to the upper face of the element. A bearing 6, which is vertical in this embodiment, protrudes from the end abutment face of each of the wings 2. It is arranged substantially at mid-height so as to leave spaces, respectively 7 a and 7 b, above and below it.

The core 3 of the element A forming the rear transverse wall of the container comprises, in its face towards the space defined between the wings 2, spaced slots 8 extending vertically. Its back is provided with slots 9, while it comprises, in each of its two rear outer angles, at least a recess 10 which, in this embodiment, is facing up.

Each body element A still presents relative positioning and sealing means of the junction between superposed elements. In the embodiment shown, said means consist firstly of ribs 12 h projecting upwardly from the upper edge of a wing 2 and the half of the core 3, and secondly of ribs 12 b projecting downwardly from the underside of the opposite wing 2 and the other half of the core 3.

These ribs 12 h and 12 b are designed to cooperate with grooves 13 h and 13 b coming respectively from the upper and lower faces of the element, and in the extension of the ribs.

Finally, each element A is traversed vertically by four vertical chimneys 14 arranged in its rear angles and in the bearings 6, bounding the opening provided.

Each end member B differs from the body elements A by the presence of a bottom 15 closing the space between the wings 2 and a return 16, forming a threshold or cap for the door D. The bottom 15 has slots 17 parallel to its wings 2 and which are arranged to coincide with the slots 8 formed in the part of its core 3 facing the inside of the container.

This element also includes ribs 12 h and grooves 13 h, but only on its side opposite to the bottom 15.

The return 16 extends to the front over a distance enabling it to protect the entire thickness of the door abutting against the shoulder 4 a which it is provided.

The element B also comprises four chimneys 14 for the passage of clamping metal rods F.

The end element B may be arranged with its central cavity upwardly opening, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 7, or downwardly opening, as shown in FIG. 1.

The end element B can be arranged with its central cavity upwardly opening, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 7, or downwardly opening, as shown in FIG. 1.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 9, each frame C is formed by welded metal profiles 18 forming a reinforced frame adapted to rest against the elements B, by complying their contour. It is crossed by four holes 19 having the same distribution as the chimneys 14 of elements A and B. The lower frame is provided with castors 20.

In an alternative embodiment, the upper frame consists of two U-shaped metal profiles to dispose instead of the frame stringers shown in FIG. 9. The stiffening function is the same, but the aesthetic appearance of the container is improved.

The construction of a container is very quick and easy since it consists of superimposing a number of body elements A, three in the example shown, disposing this stack between two end elements B reinforced by their frames C, then engaging the metal rods F in the holes 19 and chimneys 14, by taking care to set up the connecting rods E described below. The final connection is provided by screwing nuts 22 (FIG. 1) on the threaded ends of each of the four rods F. This screwing engages the ribs 12 and 12 b in the grooves 13 h and 13 b of the elements and not only ensures the positioning of the elements, but also the connection between elements and the sealing of their joint planes.

It will also be notes that to perfect this peripheral sealing, the length of the rib fragment 12 h projecting from the core of elements A and B is slightly larger than the length of the groove for receiving it. Thus, during assembly of the elements A and B, the end of the rib projecting from the upper member abuts against the projecting end of the one projecting from the lower element, to form by elastic deformation a continuity in the sealing barrier between elements.

It is the same for the ribs 5 which have, as shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, at each of their ends a projection 5 a forming a small protrusion extending from the joint plane between elements. During the tightening of the elements A and B stacked, these projections elastically collapse against the facing projections to ensure the continuity of the sealing barrier 50 that the ribs 5 form around the opening of the body 1.

FIGS. 4 and 7 show that each body element A and each end element B is internally bounded, near its joint plane with another element, and along its wings 2 and it core 3, by a shoulder 23 forming, with the shoulder of the opposite element, a slider 24 for the storage shelves for foodstuffs and products to be preserved, as shown more particularly in FIG. 14.

The upper slider 24 a separates in the body the space 41 for preserving materials and the space 42 for receiving the heat exchanging means. This slider is used for the introduction of the heat exchanging means being constituted by a eutectic plate, by a drawer containing dry ice . . .

This same FIG. 14 shows that the slots 8 formed in the cores 3 of elements A and B, and these in the back wall of the container obtained by assembling these elements A and B, and these 17 formed in the bottoms 15 of elements B, coincide with those 25 formed in the inner face of the door D, visible in FIG. 15, to form annular air circulation channels. These facilitate the movements of the convection thermal currents between the upper part and the lower part of the container, improving the homogenization of the temperature of the preserving space 41 without use of any additional means, mechanical or electrical.

Finally, the FIG. 10 shows that the clearances 10 arranged at the rear and outside of the body elements A enable to manually catch each of the rear rods F, for example to move the container, loaded or not. This arrangement is done at no extra cost and without changing the insulation qualities of the container.

The door shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 and 10 to 15 is monolithic and presents, by molding and on its two longitudinal edges, spaced bearings 31 and 32 respectively on its hinged edge on the body and on the other side. These bearings 31 and 32 each receive a reinforcement metal rod, respectively 33 and 34, extending over the height of the door and not beyond.

The connecting rods E are arranged on the door in spaces between bearings 31, and on the body in the gaps formed by juxtaposition of the spaces 7 a and 7 b between bearings 6. One end thereof is freely rotatably mounted on the rod 33 of the door, while their other end is freely rotatably mounted on the rod F connecting the wings 2 of the elements A and B. The shape of the rods E allows to fold the door D against the side wall of the container, as shown in FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 shows that in the spaces between bearings 32 of the door are arranged hooks 35 of the attachment means G, means also comprising, in the embodiment shown, the rod 34 on which said hooks are fixed and a lever 36 rotating the rod 34.

Obviously, the longitudinal and transverse edges of the door are defined and molded according to the shape of the walls against which they will be applied at the closing of the door.

Thanks to this, and as shown in FIG. 12, when the door is brought back against the container opening, its inner face 38 come closer to the peripheral sealing rib 5, while the hooks 35 in engagement with the rod F of the body pull the door until it rests against the edge of the opening, as shown in FIG. 10.

FIG. 1 shows that the door D is provided with a magnet 39 projecting from its front face and that the body element A which is the highest is provided with a metal plate 40 embedded in a recessed housing 43. With these magnetic means, when the door D is folded against the container wall, as shown in FIG. 11, the magnet 39 is stuck to the plate 40 and ensure the holding of this door. FIG. 14 shows that in this position, and thanks to its opening at 270 degrees, the door D is compact and does not obstruct the loading or unloading of the container, and thus is less subject to shocks and frictions which can worsen it.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 18 and 19, the sealing barrier 50, formed by the ribs 5 and projections 5 a is reinforced by a rib 52 projecting from the inner face 38 of the door D and disposed thereon so as to surround the barrier 50. Thus, in the normal sealing conditions, the two barriers 50 and 52 form an air channel 53 opposing the heat transfers with the outside, and in case of sealing loss in the barrier 50, the rib 52 alone ensures the sealing and the product storage conditions in the container.

The ribs 5 and 52 are formed by the constitutive material of the elements A and B and the door D, which has the advantage of avoiding to use seals to be reported and increasing the cost and manufacturing time.

These ribs resiliently collapse against their abutment surfaces under the action of attachment means bringing back forcefully the door D against the abutment surfaces of the container.

It is specified that these hooking closure means may have any other shape, provided that at the closure, they approach the door D of its supports.

It follows from the foregoing that the container according to the invention:

-   -   is composed of inexpensive elements and whose assembly requires         little additional metallic elements, such as bolts and         miscellaneous hardware, or glue or hazardous solvent;     -   uses a reduced number of components easily and quickly assembled         by screwed rods providing the rigidity of the construction;     -   implements light but resistant cell materials, enabling to save         about 40% by dry weight, reducing the load capacity and the         consumption of container transport means;     -   and provides a thermal insulation at least equal to that of the         containers of the prior art. 

1. An isothermal container for preserving of various materials, said container comprising: a body made of an insulating material having a cavity divided into a space for receiving products to preserve in temperature and in a space for receiving a heat exchanger, a door made of insulating material coming against an opening, and lock of the door in a closed position, characterized in that the body is formed by stacking body elements made of insulating material and which are each generally U-shaped with wings forming transverse walls, and the ends of said wings define an access opening, said body elements being inserted between end elements which, with the same U-section but closed on one side by a bottom, are reinforced by extreme metal and independent frames, exerting on their transverse walls a compressive strength produced by clamping rods extending between the two frames and passing through the body elements and the end elements.
 2. The isothermal container according to claim 1, characterized in that the door has spaced bearings in each of its longitudinal edges, in which is disposed a metal reinforcing rod passing through the door along its entire length, said door comprising: on the side of its hinged connection on the body and in the space between the bearings, connecting rods whose one end is hinged to its reinforcing rod and the other end on a rod of the body, and, on the other side and in the spaces between the bearings, an attachment passing through gaps between bearings of the body to hang on a rod of said body.
 3. The isothermal container according to claim 1, characterized in that the body elements, the end elements and the door are made of an expanded cellular material.
 4. The isothermal container of claim 1, characterized in that a relative positioning and sealing between the body elements and end elements assembled, respectively, are provided by ribs projecting from a wing and half of the core of each element, said ribs and penetrating into grooves arranged in a wing and half of the core of the elements A or B in a facing arrangement, said ribs and grooves being distributed reversely on the opposite sides of each of the body elements.
 5. The isothermal container according to claim 1, characterized in that each body element and end element, respectively, is bounded internally near a junction plane with another element, and along its wings and its core by a shoulder forming, with the shoulder of the opposite element, a slider for receiving the storage shelves for foodstuffs and products to preserve.
 6. The isothermal container according to claim 1, characterized in that each body unit comprises, in its two opposite outer angles, at the end of its wings and on a part of its height, a recess allowing to manually catch the rod passing through this angle.
 7. The isothermal container according to claim 1, characterized in that each of the two end members comprises, in its bottom and inside the body, slots spaced and parallel to its wings, communicating with longitudinal slots arranged in the inner face of the door and with slots arranged in the core of the elements, thus forming flow annular channels of the convection thermal motions.
 8. The isothermal container according to claim 1, characterized in that the door has, projecting from its external face, a magnet which, in an open position and folded at 270° against the body, is able to cooperate with a metal plate secured against the external face of the body.
 9. The isothermal container according to claim 1, characterized in that an end face of each wing of the body elements and an end face of the end elements has a rib which, projecting from the abutment face for the door, extends parallel to the clamping rods and has, at each of its ends, a projection adapted to collapse elastically against projections of the elements stacked to ensure the continuity of a sealing barrier formed by these ribs by surrounding the opening of the body.
 10. The isothermal container according to claim 9, characterized in that the door has, projecting from its face abutting against the face of the body, a continuous rib around the sealing barrier formed by juxtaposition of the ribs of the body elements and end elements.
 11. The isothermal container according to claim 3, wherein the cellular material is expanded polypropylene. 